Nightlight

Nightlight is a free, open-source utility for Windows that places a small icon in your system tray so you can quickly switch between the operating system’s built-in light and dark themes. It suits anyone who often changes themes on Windows 10, especially users who like a bright interface during the day and a darker one for evening or late-night work.

Fast theme toggling from the system tray

Nightlight’s main appeal is convenience. While Windows 10 eventually added a dark theme, changing it usually means digging through settings and submenus. Nightlight skips all that by giving you direct control from the system tray.

A simple left-click on its tray icon flips the system between light and dark modes right away. If you prefer a bit more control, a right-click brings up a small context menu so you can choose which theme you want instead of just toggling back and forth. This approach keeps theme switching quick and unobtrusive.

Separate control for apps, Explorer, and the Start menu

Nightlight does more than apply a single theme everywhere. From its context menu, you can open a settings section that splits theme handling into two groups.

One option controls Apps, File Explorer, and the System. The other manages the Start menu and taskbar. You can apply the light or dark theme to either group on its own or to both at the same time. This lets you, for example, keep the desktop interface dark while experimenting with a different look for apps, or align everything with a single click when you want a consistent appearance.

Focused design from an indie developer

Developed by indie creator Walter Imaican, Nightlight sticks to a very specific job. It provides quick access to Windows’ light and dark themes without adding broader customization tools or complex configuration screens.

The experience is intentionally minimal. There are no extra visual effects or unrelated utilities bundled in. If all you need is a fast, accessible way to change themes from the tray, Nightlight delivers that in a straightforward manner. The description that it “gets the job done without any fuss” captures the overall feel of using it.

Requirements and minor drawbacks

Before Nightlight can run, your system needs to have the .NET runtime installed. Without that component, the program will not work, so this requirement might matter on systems that do not already include it.

Updating the utility can also be a small inconvenience. When a newer version becomes available, you have to remove the previous installation before adding the update. This extra step does not affect daily use, but it does make keeping the tool current a bit less smooth than an automatic in-place upgrade.

Verdict

Nightlight is a practical choice if you want rapid control over Windows’ light and dark themes without navigating system menus every time. It lives quietly in the system tray, offers just enough configuration to target different parts of the interface, and stays focused on doing that single job reliably. If you are happy with Windows’ built-in themes and simply want faster access to them, this small open-source tool fits that role well.